The website SoulPancake tweeted the link to this article yesterday and while I did my retweeting duty, I thought it was important enough to post it on here as well. I think that as veg*ns we assume that our diet, free of the harmful hormones and chemicals used in the factory farming of animals and animal products, is naturally safe. We (or at least I) sometimes forget that in this day and age, even “natural” foods and produce can be just as harmful. So while this list includes things like fish and beef that I don’t eat anyway, there were some items on the list that I do eat that caught me by surprise. I know as a vegan on a budget I am always trying to weigh which items are worth my time to spend the extra money on for organics. Lists like this help me to make those decisions.

Foer, author of Eating Animals (currently on my “to read” list) went on The Colbert Report to talk about the new book and did a great job going head to head with the likes of Colbert. He was able to get in a lot of good information on the state of our farming system and how bad it is for the animals and for us (without coming off as a douchy vegan fanatic). Of course it didn’t stop Stephen from using bacon as a bookmark in the book, but would we expect any less? It was awesome to see a vegan author on such a mainstream show.

On Saturday, I went to a farmer’s market on route 46 in New Jersey that my friend Tracie told me about. It’s an indoor place that’s open all year round and it. is. awesome. I almost laughed with glee when my total came to a little over $25 for all of this:

Head of leaf lettuce (sooo fresh)
Five tomatoes
Red seedless grapes (the best I’ve tasted since summer)
One avocado
Two cucumbers
Bag of fuji apples
Bunch of bananas
One white onion
Three Idaho potatoes
One sweet potato
Head of cauliflower
One bunch of asparagus
Two bags of baby carrots
One mango
Two large leeks
A block of tofu (for under $2!)
Two cartons of vegetable broth (low sodium even)
Two dinner rolls
A package of potato and spinach Gnocci
A container of Asian snack mix

There might have been more, but that’s what I can remember off the top of my head. I’m not someone who really knows what good prices are for things like produce, but I have to believe that $25 for all of this is a steal. So if you live in the North Jersey area you have to check this place out. It’s a little hard to find, but if you’re on 46 east it is after the 23/80 interchange and in the same turn off as the Saturn dealer. Drive toward the dealer and then keep heading back and you’ll find it. It looks a little sketchy but it’s worth it. Happy shopping!

Congratulations to both Food, Inc. and The Cove on their Academy Award nominations for Best Documentary Feature! Such widespread release and coverage of both of these films has been really important in spreading information on topics that the general public is either unaware of or avoids. Topics like the problems with our animal agriculture business, over fishing, pollution, animal rights and governmental control of the food we eat. No matter which film wins (there are three others in the category, as well), these nominations will ensure even more people will see these films and hear what they have to say.

I myself have not been able to see Food, Inc. yet (although I have heard all about it), but I recently saw The Cove at Tribeca Cinemas and found it shocking and moving. I was on the verge of tears multiple times. The director was at the screening and he is a first time filmmaker! The whole process they went through just to make the film was absolutely extraordinary. I highly recommend seeing this movie.

This is the necklace I got at a vegan/eco-fashion sample sale in Manhattan on Saturday. It is from Vaute Couture which specializes in vegan coats, but also sells some eco-friendly t-shirts and jewelry as well. Unfortunately, none of the coats were cut right for me, but this piece caught my eye. I knew I had to have it when the designer told me that she was inspired by the e.e. cumming’s poem “i carry your heart with me” which is one of my all time favorites. The sheep is also perfect since you’ll remember (if you’ve been following along) it is the animal I “adopted” from Farm Sanctuary, which also benefits from all sales of this coat.

For more information on this necklace or to order one, go here.
To follow Leanne (the designer)’s blog, go here.

(Note: They also make the coat worn a couple times this season by Emily Deschanel on Bones. According to the designer, she should be wearing it again in this week’s ep.)

“If God had not intended for us to eat animals, how come He made them out of meat?…I love meat. I eat pork chops, thick bacon burgers, and the seared fatty edges of a medium-well-done steak. But I especially love moose and caribou. I always remind people from outside our state that there’s plenty of room for all Alaska’s animals — right next to the mashed potatoes.”

Why does it sound like this book was written by a bad stand up comic from the 80s?

*goes and stands in front of a brick wall*

You know what there also seems to be room for next to your mashed potatoes Ms. Palin? A heart attack, obesity, global warming, wildlife destruction, cruelty and ignorance. Amiright people?! Y’all know what I’m talking about.

I know I haven’t posted in a while and I don’t really have anything to post right now either. Just wanted to say that I am going up to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glenn, NY with some friends this weekend and I’m really excited! I went to the one in California last year for their Thanksgiving FOR the Turkeys and had a great time, but supposedly since the New York shelter is the original, it is bigger. Plus we will be staying in the bed and breakfast right on the farm, which should be awesome. Can’t wait to tell you all about it and share some pics! I’m also hoping to see my sheep Emmalie. It’s been about a year since I sponsored her, so she’s probably a full grown sheepy by now. Ah, they grow up so fast.

I hope everyone else has a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!

And if you’re looking for something to do this weekend go see The Cove at the Angelika in NYC for me. Or find it in another city near you. It’s supposed to be an amazing docmentary about the, until now, unknown and brutal killing of dolphins in a cove in Japan every year.